Therese Hanvold - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Therese Hanvold

BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2016

There is a need to investigate the occurrence of multisite pain in young adults and to determine ... more There is a need to investigate the occurrence of multisite pain in young adults and to determine potential factors contributing to the early course of multisite musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the occurrence and change of prevalence in the number of pain sites. We also wanted to identify work-related and individual risk factors associated with the number of musculoskeletal pain sites. We monitored musculoskeletal pain from 4 body regions, individual and work-related factors on 21 occasions over a 6.5 year period. The cohort consisted of 420 technical school students entering working life. Data were analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE). Pain from more than one body site was prevalent in this cohort of young adults (69 % at baseline), and the number of body sites in pain was found quite stable over the 6.5 year follow-up period. Women had higher number of pain sites compared with men and gender specific risk factors were identified. ...

BMC Public Health, 2015

The association between leisure time physical activity and low back pain in young adults is uncle... more The association between leisure time physical activity and low back pain in young adults is unclear and is in the need of prospectively obtained evidence. This study examined the course of low back pain and the association between low back pain and leisure time physical activity in a cohort of young adults in their transition from school to working life. Both low back pain and leisure time physical activity was monitored over a 6.5 year period in 420 subjects starting out as students within hairdressing, electrical installation and media/design. The association between physical activity and low back pain was investigated through the follow-up period by using linear mixed models analysis. Low back pain was significantly influenced by time and overall there was a decreasing trend of low back pain prevalence throughout the follow-up. Analysis showed a weak trend of decreasing low back pain with moderate/high physical activity levels, but this association was not significant. Low back pain decreased during follow-up with baseline as reference. Findings in our study did show non-significant trends of reduced low back pain with increased leisure time physical activity. Still, we could not support the theory of moderate/high levels of physical activity acting protective against low back pain in young adults entering working life. Our results, in combination with previous relevant research, cannot support a clear relationship between physical activity and low back pain for young adults. Thus, recommendations regarding effect of physical activity on reducing low back pain for this group are not clear.

Work (Reading, Mass.), 2012

The aim was to analyze the relationship between periods with uninterrupted neck muscle activity f... more The aim was to analyze the relationship between periods with uninterrupted neck muscle activity for ≥ 4 min and neck and shoulder pain. The trapezius muscle activity was recorded bilaterally on 40 young workers and students during a full shift. Neck and shoulder pain, mechanical work load and decision control were reported at the same time as the muscle activity recording and 6 months later. A dose-response relationship was found between uninterrupted muscle activity and neck and shoulder pain, with a ten-fold higher risk for the group with more than half, compared to less than a third, of the shift with uninterrupted muscle activity. Self-reported mechanical work load showed a small but protective effect related to pain. Gender and decision control did not emerge as important risk factors in this model. In conclusion, this study indicates that work or other exposures that contains long periods with uninterrupted neck muscle activity of 4 min duration or longer should be minimized t...

Applied Ergonomics, 2015

This prospective study aimed at examining if work with prolonged arm elevation predicts shoulder ... more This prospective study aimed at examining if work with prolonged arm elevation predicts shoulder pain among 41 young adults in their first years of working life. Fifteen hairdressers, 15 electricians, 5 students and 6 with various work were followed over a 2.5-year period (2006/7e2009). Arm elevation was measured with inclinometers during a full working day at baseline. Shoulder pain was reported at baseline and twice in the follow-up period. Data were analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE-analysis), stratified by gender and adjusted for time, mechanical workload, work demand, physical activity, tobacco use and prior shoulder pain. Work with prolonged arm elevation with angles >60 and >90 were associated with shoulder pain among women. Even though the shoulder pain levels are low the study suggests work with arms elevated as an early work-related risk factor among women, and indicates the importance of early prevention strategies.

European Journal of Physiotherapy, 2013

ABSTRACT Purpose: To study the association between self-reported general tension and muscle tensi... more ABSTRACT Purpose: To study the association between self-reported general tension and muscle tension, and clinically tested relaxation ability. Methods: Self-reports on muscle tension habits and on general tension, and the covariates neck and shoulder pain, perceived stress level, perceived mastery of work, quantitative work demands, and leisure time physical activity, were collected on a questionnaire (52 males, 81 females, mean age 23 years). A clinical test on relaxation ability was performed by a trained physiotherapist on a subsample (38 males, 39 females). Results: Perceived general tension showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) correlation with the muscle tension habit score (0.58), and the muscle tension factor (0.54). None of the self-reported tension measures correlated with the relaxation ability score. The self-reported tension measures, but not the clinical tension score, showed an association with neck and shoulder pain and perceived stress level. Conclusions: The self-reported measures of general tension and of muscle tension correlated and probably represented similar phenomenon. However, the subjects’ perceived stress level was to a higher degree reflected in the measure of general tension. The score of the clinical test on relaxation ability did not show an association with the self-reported tension measures.

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 2014

A longitudinal study on risk factors for neck and shoulder pain among young adults in the transit... more A longitudinal study on risk factors for neck and shoulder pain among young adults in the transition from technical school to working life by Hanvold TN, Waersted M, Mengshoel AM, Bjertness E, Twisk J, Veiersted KB

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 2013

The results indicate that sustained trapezius muscle activity with periods of more than 4 minutes... more The results indicate that sustained trapezius muscle activity with periods of more than 4 minutes duration for more than half of the working day, increases the rate of neck and shoulder pain in a 2.5-year period. This implicates the importance of reducing the lengths of periods with sustained muscle activity at work. Hanvold TN, Waersted M, Mengshoel AM, Bjertness E, Stigum H, Twisk J, Veiersted KB. The effect of work-related sustained trapezius muscle activity on the development of neck and shoulder pain among young adults. Scand J Work Environ Health -online first.

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2010

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to relate the prevalence of neck, shoulder, and up... more Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to relate the prevalence of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain to occupational and individual risk factors among a population of technical school students in their transition from school to working life. In addition, we wanted to assess the changes in pain prevalence during follow-up. Methods: A cohort consisting of 173 technical school students was followed up during a 3-year period, from their last year of school through their first years of working life. Data on self-reported neck, shoulder, and upper back pain and factors such as mechanical exposure, perceived stress, and physical activity in leisure time were collected. Results: A high prevalence of pain in the neck, shoulder, and upper back among the technical school students was found. There were however few students reporting severe pain. Reporting pain at baseline gave over three times higher risk of reporting it at follow-up. A high level of physical activity outside working hours gave a lower risk of reporting neck, shoulder, and upper back pain at follow-up. High and moderate levels of mechanical exposure and high stress level were not found to be risk factors for pain after entering working life. Conclusion: Neck, shoulder, and upper back pain are common among adolescents and may persist into working life. These results may give potential for preventive efforts at a young age. There is still much uncertainty about the factors leading to musculoskeletal pain, and more research is needed on this topic. Ó

Applied Ergonomics, 2013

The aim of this study is to record, objectively describe and compare working postures of Brazilia... more The aim of this study is to record, objectively describe and compare working postures of Brazilian and Norwegian construction electricians. Postures of the upper arms, head, and neck during work and breaks were quantified by means of inclinometry for a representative sample of 12 Brazilian and 12 Norwegian electricians in the construction industry during a full work-shift. Despite that differences were found between specific work-related factors, Brazilian and Norwegian workers revealed a high and very similar level and pattern of postures for all evaluated body regions, suggesting that results could be extrapolated to other electricians. Upper arm elevation was high and similar for both groups and head flexion and extension was pronounced compared to other occupations. Thus, extreme postures were identified for construction electricians in both countries, with similar exposure pattern also for defined tasks (planning, support and wiredraw), suggesting that this job is risky regardless organizational differences.

Advances in Physiotherapy, 2012

ABSTRACT Purpose: To study the association between muscle rest of vocational electromyographic (E... more ABSTRACT Purpose: To study the association between muscle rest of vocational electromyographic (EMG) recordings and perceived muscle tension, and whether this association is modified by limiting the EMG measure to pauses from active work. Methods: A muscle rest measure was calculated in a whole workday EMG recording of the upper trapezius muscles, as well as during pauses from active work in 19 males and 23 females (mean age 22 years, range 20–25). Self-reports on muscle tension habits and the covariates neck and shoulder pain, perceived stress level, and leisure time physical activity were collected in a questionnaire. Results: The muscle rest measure showed a moderate negative correlation with the subjects’ perceived muscle tension. This association became somewhat stronger and statistically significant when the EMG measure was restricted to the pauses from active work. Conclusions: Perceived muscle tension is associated to trapezius EMG muscle rest during pauses from active work.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2010

Background: This review examines the evidence for an association between computer work and neck a... more Background: This review examines the evidence for an association between computer work and neck and upper extremity disorders (except carpal tunnel syndrome).